Joy Dare: 1000 and counting

ONE THOUSAND EIGHTY FIVE....

Yep that's the number I ended on in my last post of the counting of the #1000gifts!! I think that makes it a pretty good year, especially considering there are a ton more gifts that I didn't actually write down or count but I know that my God was still gifting me, every single day!!

I've jumped back on the Joy Dare and am making a sincere effort to get them written down in my 1000 gifts journal. I am trying to share them on twitter every day and I want to finish out the year with you all here.

So I keep counting...

1086.  the quiet of libraries

• Frostys from Wendys
• Prayers of friends
• good sleep
• red barns decorating winter landscapes
• having a mentor and friend
• Dove Dark Chocolates wrapped in red
• Having my husband home again after 4 days away
• a new small camera
• some free write poetry in my last Five Minute Friday of 2012
• 3 deer meandering through my back field... always a treat to see

• Fridays!!!

JoyDare WHITE:

• snowflake ornaments
• ice cream for homemade eggnog
• Christmas lights;
  
  JoyDare BRIGHT:
• our new Christmas tree lights

• smiles on my kids' faces decorating the tree
• singing "Gloria, Emmanuel"
  
  JoyDare SHINING: 
• seeing heavy AM fog as birthday hug from God
• needing sunglasses later in the day
• my kids singing "Happy Birthday" to me
• pizza and wings for birthday dinner!!
• hugs from my kids... and everyday gift
• daily battle to crown Him as King of my life
• desire to craft cards
  
  JoyDare SILVER:
• tinsel on the tree
• hearing "Silver Bells"
  
  JoyDare SWEET: 
• kisses from my kids (and my husband)
• drinking Southern Pecan @AvodahCoffee
• Christmas cookies I want to make!
  
  JoyDare from SAVIOR
• redemption; 
• unconditional love; 
• new mercies every morning
  
• hung--handmade ornament wreath;

• held--frosted Christmas cookies and coffee mug; 
• heard--Christmas carols
  
  ugly beautiful: 
• cookies frosted by kids;

• crazy Christmas lines; 
• creative use of leftovers
  
  JoyDare Artwork Unframed:
• huge flock of birds against gray sky backdrop

• kids artwork on the fridge
• handmade card ideas stuck in my head

and now I'm at 1127... and I keep counting!!

 

what are you thankful for in this Christmas season?

November Joy Dare

Life seems to get busier as we near the end of the year and sometimes in my busyness, I forget to count the gifts. One week, I didn't write a single thing in my notebook, but it did my heart good to go back and count and search and dig and find, gifts abundant.

So here it is, my praise song to Jesus. Thank you for the gifts, the graces, the blessings this November...
(without any pictures because my blog storage is full... help???)


JoyDare N
983. nest ring (which has since broken... must re-glue)
984. nice neighbors
985. naps
986. Nutella on toast

987. my hubby cleaning and reorganizing the fridge after hurricane Sandy
988. pizza for dinner
989. early night time

990. sax addition to church worship team
991. "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe!"
992. encouraging words and hugs
993. groceries and laundry

JoyDare (acorn small)
994. spark of electricity flowing through my house
995. coffee cream in my cup
996. the hearts of my kids

997. bacon
998. Christmas music, early
999. the right to vote
1000. freedom of religion
1001. God's sovereignty
1002. sunshine, glorious sunshine
1003. morning snack with Sienna

1004. always thankful for the view out my window.
1005. reading/studying Amos
1006. writing critique from my BBT friends (masterminds :)
1007. heat in my van and house

• SWEET: Dove Dark chocolate
• SALTY: tortilla chips w/ salsa
• SIPPED: coffee
• strawberry jam
• discipline brings a harvest of righteousness
• grace
• the excitement of first wiggly teeth
• writing
• Five Minute Friday

• sleeping in
• pancakes made by my sweet husband!
• kitchen cleaned by the kids and hubby
• Col. 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath delivered us from power of darkness
• Col. 1:17 He is before all things!
• a day off social media
• singing with 6YO 
• playing with my new phone
• Wes teaching in ABF (adult Bible fellowship)
• the laundromat
• little girls dancing at laundromat
• graham cracker snack
• a love note in the snow dusting
• grocery shopping
• Wegmans White Christmas blend coffee
• an email from Holley Gerth re: God-Sized Dreams Team
• quiet in the library
  
  (Golden JoyDare)
• sunrise turning golden
• making pumpkin cookies
• golden wedding rings
  
  (JoyDare Hard Eucharisteo)
• consequences
• tears and headaches
• washing dirty dishes
  
• adults that will always be kids
• practical jokers
• good clean fun
• recounting memories
• "Progressive" dinner with ABF
• morning frost on fields, weeds and leaves
  
• lives MADE new
• testimonies SHARED
• goodly heritage PASSED ON thru generations
• baptisms at church
  
  (JoyDare AUTUMN)
• apple pie
• thanksgiving Indian costumes
• extra blankets
• vibrant sunsets
  
• bread machines
• baking pies
• hubby hanging Christmas lights
• an excursion to Sam's Club ... and Hobby Lobby
• Texas Roadhouse rolls
• Dark Chocolate with Mint
• Psalm 100
• turkey in the oven
• apples and walnuts in stuffing
• after dinner walk
• staying up late for #FMFParty
  
  (JoyDare in Christ)
• unending grace
• spiritual family
• hope, joy, peace (Rom 15:13)
  
• vintage jewelry
• early Christmas
• a working washing machine
• kids trying out new scooters
• leftovers
• buying new Christmas lights
• apple pie and vintage Fiesta dishes
  
• "Take time to be holy, ... spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone"
• excessive laughter with friends
• seeing 8 deer the night before hunting season began
• pajama day
• smooth day with hubby gone
• my dishwasher
• Vicks Vaporub
• sale prices
• HANDMADE scarves from MIL
• HAPPY moments of 4YO catching snowflakes on her tongue
• ending the day HOLDING my 6YO for some extra loving time

and the list goes on and on and I lose count!! :)

My daily battle for joy

I wrote this one October evening in my garage after I arrived home... just finally getting it up here on the blog, while I count gifts, count blessings, give thanks, and fight for joy.

 

The seasons are changing, they've already changed and I can feel the blues settling in right next to the cold down to my bones, down to my soul. It's pressing me down and I dread the winter. And I know I need to give thanks, even in this.

I take my son to karate one evening. It's getting dark earlier and if there is one thing I can't stand, it's driving in the dark. I feel my neck tighten, my shoulders contract and my back spasms. My eyes keep blinking, somehow assuming that I might be able to see better if I try harder. Twice in the outskirts of my high beams, I see the reflection of the deer's eyes in the farmer's fields and I give thanks in safety on the country roads and find joy in God's protection.

I read Ann's post---why the battle for joy is really worth it (twice) and I sob, literally tears streaming down my face. While I don't remember consistent anger or yelling in my past, it has seeped into my present and I don't want to leave this legacy for my kids. I snap, I shout, I cry, I ask for forgiveness. I keep fighting for joy, fighting to give thanks.

Maybe that's why Thanksgiving is this time of year; when the season's change and we have less light and the depression takes root. A reminder to continually give thanks to THE LIGHT, see His gifts and fight to find the joy, then share the joy.

and so I keep counting and I start another gratitude/gladitude journal and I pick up the JoyDare sheets again and I count, count, count... just keep counting (I'm just gonna post October thanks here, I'll be back with November next week).

891. blog posts from Ann Voskamp that make me cry... and keep counting
892. wind chimes
893. pumpkin spice coffee
894. thistles... that remind me of my mom

895. sleeping in
896. reading to my kids
897. a deer in the back field... at just the right time (it could be a whole nother blog post)

898. "tumbleweeds" from the boys
899. hug, kiss and a smile from my 6YO in the morning (she's not a morning person)
900. a thunderstorm
901. a bluebird out my porch window

902. French toast made with Texas toast
903. special order for a handmade birthday card

904. sharing a coffee with Wes
905. date night (Shakespeare play @BBC)
906. FREE Fun Day for community at church
907. hayrides, jugglers
908. laundromats
909. ice packs for aching backs
910. the power of healing prayers
911. finishing a project
912. pumpkins

913. Bible reading
914. actually completing house chores
915. warm sunny fall day
916. "Bob the Tomato" in the BBC pond

917. ombre colored trees

918. fresh highlights and a haircut
919. rain
920. family pictures... in said rain (by the fantastical Daniel Lanton)

921. lasagna soup/ fresh bread
922. writing class
923. laughter
924. friends that tell it to me straight
925. kids and "grand prix" cars and races

926. leaves dancing across the road

ALLUME THANKS (927-955) (no photos here, I will get some up in my recap post... someday)
enjoying a road trip with Donna
meeting online friends IN REAL LIFE
hearing "Bob the Tomato"
FMF Party LIVE
writing on voice
hearing others sharing their words
enjoying Avodah coffee
comfy pajamas
extravagant meals
amazing speakers, sharing their hearts
"The message, no matter what we write about is Jesus Christ, crucified" (@kjtanner)
time spent in the prayer room at Allume
cupcakes
open mic night in the (in)courage lounge

encouragement from Debi, Zohary, Katherine and so many others
silly moments, crazy moments
small may be big enough (@ProBlogger)
Monty Python reference (and re-enactment) with Logan
"Your target customer may not be you!" (@GussySews)
meeting Ann Voskamp ---she's a great hugger!

Saying goodbye with prayers to real friends
Seeing Jesus with skin on
safety in travels
welcome home hugs from my kids
being home again
pizza takeout with friends
a hot shower
being in Wes' arms again
anticipating a day off for kids

Giving thanks in the midst of Hurricane Sandy (956-982)
sleeping in
scrambled eggs for the kids
not losing power all day
words
grace, every day grace
protection in the storm
family Monopoly game
trip to Starbucks, Target, Perkins (for coffee, light, a hot meal)
extra blankets on beds
showers and laundry at a friend's house
cheese quesadillas for lunch
sharing tears with my dad (via phone)
provision of housing and meals -post Sandy
a college dorm adventure for the kids

library books
"reverse" trick-or-treating (bag of candy for my kids)

my daughter eating chocolate cake without a fork... the reminder to "Lose the Fork" and feast on Jesus

movie theater popcorn
free meals at the college while we were without power
snuggling with my girls during a movie matinee
internet access
free cappuccino from the Underground Cafe
childcare allowing me an hour of quiet
comfy pajamas
smiling all day long
fellowship with neighbors in lounge
redoing Five Minute Friday - Roots

stopping there for now... something tells me that I've reached 1000 in this month of November and I will be sure to share them with you soon! :)

Just thank God

Another two weeks come and gone and some slow counting of the gifts...  However God is gracious, full of lovingkindness and blesses me abundantly.  He keeps reminding me that giving thanks is where it's at.

I read this last week
Psalm 103
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases: Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

and this
Colossians 3:14-15 (the whole chapter is good, but these were some verses I focused on)
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

and heard this song ...

Here are some of the lines... 

I live a good life
I love a great wife
Our kids are beautiful
We got friends
If I'm so Thankful
Why do I easily forget
oh, that You died for all of this

Should've been me
Should've been us
Should've been there hanging on the cross
All of this shame
All of these scars
Should've been stains That were never washed
Why do I hide
Why do You try over and over and over again
I guess it just leaves me saying "thank God"

and so I just keep counting

852. church, just so thankful for my church
853. adjusting to changed plans
854. a quiet college library
855. a friend lending a hand.
856. Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha
857. ragweed bouquet from my daughter (quickly returned to the outside)
858. finding fun comfy shoes for Allume
859. finding a missing bag with some needed stuff
860. a new battery for the van
861. hubby's flexible job
862. Five Minute Friday --the one day I actually write
863. visiting a new shop... and buying new jewelry
864. Sunday dinner out
865. kids losing teeth
866. Wendy's frosty for the kids
867. my writing class ... I'm mostly loving it
868. bright Coleman lantern to read by when the power goes out.

and Starting October right by returning to the JoyDare for my #1000gifts list...
Find the October JoyDare here

October 1 gifts ORANGE:
869. pumpkins
870. trees in autumn
871. orange juice
872. glowing sunsets

October 2 FALLING:
873. leaves
874. rain
875. my kids' teeth falling out
876. falling into my bed at night!

October 3:
877. CAUGHT writing time tonight
878. when I LET my kids GO to Awana/learn verses.
879. Laughed at squirrel sitting MIDWAY across powerline

October 4 REAPED:
880. watching the farmers harvest fields
881. reaping benefit of prayer
882. discipline yielding the peace of righteousness.

October 5 RETURNED
883. going back to school for writing
884. kisses
885. hubby returning from work early to prepare for our evening. 

October 6 REDEEMED:
886. I've been redeemed
887. when I redeem my days with the right things!

October 7 BAKED, STIRRED, EATEN
888. breakfast cheesecake to share with church friends
889. stirring spaghetti sauce for dinner
890. angel creme donuts from Krispy Kreme to end the day...

September Joy Dare (Week 2&3)

My daily tweeting of the JoyDare has been strangely quiet lately. And that means I missed my weekly blog update, too. It still amazes me that it takes 21 days to create a habit, yet it's broken in just one day. For some reason the JoyDare prompts have been difficult for me over the last few weeks. I've gotten easily distracted and lazy and haven't made the effort.

That's what it takes --effort.. Effort to give thanks. Effort to find the grace and the gifts in the difficult. Sometimes it's even harder to find the gifts, the joy in the mundane.

I'm reminded that His mercies are new every morning and His grace never runs dry, so I pick up my pen and keep counting in the mundane, the daily gifts....

812. a deer in the driveway
813. the sliver moon in the sky
814. hot showers
815. coffee
816. my writing class
817. blue sky and puffy white clouds
818. bright sunshine ... and rainy days
819. extra pillows
820. a walk
821. hugs and kisses
822. big yellow buses
823. my kids' new school building
824. after dinner bible reading
825. the questions kids come up with after said bible readings
826. my dishwasher
827. electricity
828. overabundance of food
829. church friends
830. blog friends
831. family

and some gifts from the September JoyDare prompts as well...

HARD EUCHARISTEO:
832. 4YO wetting the bed... again
833. remembering 9/11
834. not getting to bed on time

GIFTS IN HIS WORD:
835. Matthew 14:22 "And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Sometimes I need to send "my multitudes" away... or at least to their rooms)
836. Psalm 46:10 Be Still and know that I am God
837. Matthew 14:27 Jesus says "Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid."

838. Scented- fall candles!
839. Scratched- writing for class;
840. Started-a new year of Awana with the kiddos!

GIFTS PAIRED:
841. Chocolate and Peanut Butter
842. cheeseburgers and french fries
843. Me and my honey!!

UGLY BEAUTIFUL:
844. drenching, unending days of rain
845. dirty dishes

GIFTS IN CONVERSATION
846. coffee date with friends
847. encouraging phone calls
848. twitter conversations about Allume

GIFTS IN SALVATION
849. we have The Comforter
850. Eternal Life
851. The grace that saves me is the grace that keeps me!

What are you thankful for... in YOUR mundane? 

 

September Joy Dare (week 1)

Okay, no time for pictures this week... I'm trying to spend less time on my computer/iPad this week... Not working too great, but I can keep trying! :)  I just love going back over the week and reviewing my gifts... so many, so blessed, so thankful!

September 4:

788. COOL breezes in window,
789. WARM cup of coffee rewarmed,
790. SUNSOAKED soaking in the ("SON") Bible for right perspective

September 5 AUTUMN:

791. sweatshirts
792. making chili
793. falling leaves
794. pumpkins

September 6 growing:

795. my Pinterest boards, haha
796. new baby cow at the nearby farm
797. my excitement about #Allume!

September 7 GIVEN:

798. time on phone with friends
799. sharing iced coffee with kids (they didn't like it)
800. the sense of smell (a fantastic writing prompt in my class today!)

September 8 Made, Masked, Marveled

801. Husband MADE pancakes for breakfast
802. veggies MASKED under chicken & sauce
803. God's unending grace
804. my kids being quick to forgive me 

September 9 Framed

805. van framed by fog this AM (and the reminder that Heaven's right here!)
806. words of worship songs framed on screen
807. fun antique door frame at a friend's house

September 10 Moving:

808. lots of wild turkey across the lawn (never gets old)
809. two deer in the field (also never gets old!)
810. reliable vehicles
811. coffee brewing (love the dripping of my Keurig)

what are you counting these days?

August Joy Dare (week 5)

The end of one month the beginning of the next.... and we just keep counting!!  

Here is September's Joy Dare! I think you should join me this month... or at least today, share a gift you received this week!

Still looking for all His good and perfect gifts which come from heaven!



August 28: long awaited
767. some peace and quiet
768. this larger home we enjoy so much
769. babies for many of my friends

Aug29:
770. ONE Starbucks frappuccino;
771. TWO pieces of dark chocolate;
772. THREE glittery crafts made

August 30 very small:
773. little pear in our backyard tree
774. kisses from my little ones
775. small prayers with great power

August 31 miracles:
776. the steps of a prodigal in the right direction
777. Christ arose... and that power lives in me!
778. a little 4YO girl from our church

September 1 summer:
779. hot sun
780. kids on slipnslide
781. having no schedule

September 2 cut:
782. buying cut flowers
783. anticipation of birthday cake
784. homemade thankyou notes

September 3 yellow:
785. corn on the cob
786. the middle of daisies
787. the blond of my children's heads






give thanks...

August Joy Dare (week 4)

the real me...just Julie

So Monday was the first day of class for me... just one class this semester, three times a week times 16 weeks... I only have 47 more to go... minus a few breaks in there, so at least 40 more classes to attend... and lots of reading reports to write, and some essays.

I'm afraid that my blogging might just suffer, which is why this post is getting put out on Tuesday morning, but I will be post dating it for "Multitude Mondays"!!  Somewhere in there I have to keep my house clean, feed my kids, make sure that meals are on the table and keep my sanity... 

which is why I really appreciated the Allume blog post today... Just keeping it REAL! I don't have it all together, and sometimes it shows up on the blog, sometimes I hide it! But I'm so excited about meeting other women at Allume Social who don't have it all together and are full of grace for the rest of us!!

and Jessica's post on Finding what you are made for, because that's what this writing class is all about for me... to find out if this is what I'm made for.

But I also know that I am made for giving thanks, all glory to the One who made me (are you made for giving thanks? tweet this!) ..."to do everything I do to the glory of the One who made me..." If you don't have the song stuck in your head yet, take a minute to listen to it!! LOVE IT!!

So here is my thanks... my 1000gifts... my JoyDare

August 20 SERVING:

742. making and serving breakfast, lunch, dinner for the family

743. service of friendship w/ friends via phone

744. Hubby helping with after dinner clean up!

August 21

745. Straight: rulers in a wreath.

746. Curve: husband coming around the bend every night.

747. Turn: turning pages of textbook for class!

August 22 in LIGHT:

748. electricity --It's a wonderful thing

749. sunlight --can't live without it

750. Jesus, the Light of the world.

August 23 OLD:

751. friends, old and new;

752. seeing the moon in the sky

753. the timeless Word of God

754. old stash of unused glo-sticks!

August 24 MOVING:

755. we moved into this awesome house 2 years ago this weekend

756. the shutter on my camera moving as I experiment

757. kids upstairs, downstairs, outside, on the porch...

August 25 FRAGILE: 

758. broken glass lamp...no one hurt

759. 4 little hearts entrusted to me

760. raindrops

August 26:

761. Cut: creating with paper and glitter

762. Sewn: hearts bound with friends

763. Buttoned: keeping my mouth shut at the right times

August 27 NEW:

764. First day of my class

765. New school building for my kids

766. trying my hand at poetry...

August Joy Dare (week 3)

Just counting and keeping up with the Joy Dare! I'm pretty sure I might hit 1000 even before December because there have been some days where I have counted more than three! How exciting is that! and I know that I'm not even counting all the gifts God bestows on my each day! It's such an encouragement to go back and read the gifts! I know that God gives so much more than I could ask or think, I just have to be looking for it!

August 14 Ring, Curve, Sphere:

723. ringtone of text saying hubby's coming home
724. curve of my kids' faces when smiling
725. kids playing catch

August 15 Ugly Beautful:

726. half price day at Salvation Army (with 4kids)
727. the incessant questions of kids
728. expensive textbooks for MY class!

August 16 of Family:

729. Psalm 16:6 I have a goodly heritage
730. nothing better than sisters
731. my kids reading their bibles this morning

August 17 in the Morning:

732. a cup of coffee
733. kissing my hubby goodbye before he leaves for work
734. sitting on the porch with my bible and notebook and pens
735. hearing the trains in the valley

August 18 Red, Read, Written

736. RED: accents on uniforms at Parade of Champions
737. READ: pre-release copy #everythingbook by @MaryDeMuth
738. WRITTEN: a thank you note

August 19 in Church: 

739. ministry & chatting in nursery
740. singing Hallelujah, What a Savior!
741. meeting a new family at evening ice cream social!

Share a blessing in the comments today?

August Joy Dare (week 2)

So much to be thankful for this week, but I didn't take many pictures... Until Saturday!

We had a little fun on Saturday night with a campfire... We roasted hot dogs for dinner and S'mores for dessert. And had the pleasure of watching and listening to my kids have a blast playing and using their imaginations!! I had fun taking pictures until my husband told me to put my camera down and enjoy the family time! :)

It's a little scary that there are only two weeks of "summer" left! (although I am looking forward to having a routine again)  This has been a most lazy summer for us. No routines, no major plans, no super busy activities. Just a whole lot of hanging out doing nothing!  We've enjoyed the library a lot and park days with friends and lots of just sitting around at home. Giving thanks every day for this home, this mountain, these acres of playland...

and these kids...

Aren't these just the most beautiful kids ever?

 

August 8 gifts in SUMMER:

702. kids playing outside all day
703. open windows, breezes
704. crickets/peepers at night.

August 9:

705. HOLE-trashcans to keep junk contained
706. WHOLE-cup of coffee I enjoyed all day
707. HALF-little treats in moderation

August 10 Hard Eucharisteo:

708. having to pay $10 for immunization records for school entry (thankful my kids are protected against disease and for a school to attend)
709. When the words won't come and blog sits blank (not the end of the world)
710. shopping for school supplies

August 11 METAL:

711. the skillet that my husband uses to make pancakes every Saturday

712. van that fits our family, gets us where we want to go
713. wedding bands

714. campfire roasting sticks

August 12 gifts half-hidden

715. leftover pizza warming in the oven
716. sun reflected in an open window
717. 5YO girl in her bunkbed tent.
718. visitor fox on Saturday morning... sighted through the leaves

August 13 GREEN

719. the return of green grass after a very dry July
720. eating a health salad for lunch
721. freshly washed bed sheets
722. returning to reading The Valley of Vision